Felting and/or fulling machines



Oct. 22 1957 E. w. SMITH FELTING AND/OR FULLING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet;1

Filed March 9, 1955 M/VE/V 70/? EDWARD w SMITH .EZEK/EL WOLF H/SATTORNEY E. W. SMITH.

FELTING AND/OR FULLING MACHINES Oct. 22, 1957 Filed March 9, 1955 2Sheets- Sheet 2 M/ VEA/TOR EDWARD W SM/TH [ZE/(IEL WOLF HIS A77ORA/EYUnited States Patent 2,810,183 FEL'IING AND/0R FULLING. MACHINES EdwardW. Smith, Melrose, Mass.

Application March 9, 1955, Serial No. 493,133

14 Claims. (01.28-)

The' present invention relates to improvements in felting and/or fullingmachines and more particularly to an improvement for use in connectionwith a torsionally oscillating rotating roll such as is described morefully in my United States Patent No. 2,604,503.

In the use of the unit described in United States Patent No. 2,604,503it has been the practice to-arrange four or more accessoryrolls aroundthe torsionally oscillating rotating roll in'such a way that they pressagainst the periph ery of the torsionally oscillating roll. The goods tobe treated are then passed between the pressure rolls and theoscillating roll as the latter is rotated and the goods are subjected toa very rapid vibratory treatment as they pass successively under each ofthe pressure rolls before leaving the machine. The goods may, or maynot, be wetted during the above treatment depending upon the actiondesired on them.

Experience has indicated that the majority of the abovementionedtreatment takes place as the goods pass between the pressure rolls andthe oscillating roll about which they are disposed, and that little ifany eifect is produced during the time the goods are in contact with theoscillating roll but not being forced against it by the pressure rolls.In cases where the goods require more treatment than can be effected bya single passage between the four pressure rolls and the oscillatingroll in the open width, increased amounts of treatment may be broughtabout either by increasing the number of pressure rolls, repeating thetreatment by successive passes through the machine, or by using abattery of machines through which the goods successively pass. Incertain'cases this method of procedure is inconvenient and it is thissituation which the present invention is designed to correct.

As-hereinbefore stated, the treatment effected appears to take placeduring the period when the goods are passing between the pressure rollsand the oscillating roll,'but not at othertimes even though the goodsmay be in intimate contact with theoscillating roll. While it is obviousthat an increased amount of treatment in a given machine could beattained by increasing the number of pressure rolls there. is avery-practical and rather low limit ,to the number of pressure rollswhich can beprovided because of lack. of space. In the present inventionthis limitation is overcome and a greatly increased number of periodsduring which the goodsare pressed against the oscillating roll areattainedwithout any increase in the number of pressure rollsthemselves.

The, method and means. whereby this novel and useful effect is attainedcanbest be understood by reference to the figures in which: 1

Figure 1 illustrates a partially schematic end view of the machine, and

Figure 2 illustrates. a. partially schematic side view of the machine. g

A torsionally oscillating. roll 1, is supportedby a concentric shaft 2.'Thisshaft 2 is suitably supported at one end by bearings 3 which may bepositioned if desired, in the, Wall of a tank or container. The otherend of the shaft 2, may be secured toga drive member 4 such as thedeviceillustrated in my Letters Patent 2,604,503 for supplying atorsionally oscillating drive to the'roller F I ICC 1. Although notillustrated in the drawing, this latter end of the shaft 2 may also besupported in a bearing member. Disposed about thetorsional-lyoscillating roll 1 are pressure rollers 5, 6, 7 and 8.. These rolls,preferably four in number, are positioned parallel to, and press againstthe oscillating roll 1 in a manner hereinafter described. Each of theserolls 5, 6, 7 and 8 are supported on concentric shafts 9. Theseshaftsextend from either end of the roll into journal members .10. Thesejournal members which permit free rotation of the rolls 5, 6, 7 and 8are in turn mounted on rectangular blocks 11 (see Figure 1).

The blocks are in turn slidably mounted in the rectangular sleeveelement 12, having closed ends 13 and 14 and a longitudinal opening onthe inside wall through which the shaft 9 passes. The rectangular,blocks 11 are pressed towards the ends 13 by helical springs 15. One endof each spring 15 presses against the rectangular block 11, while theother end may engage slidable plate member 16 having a projecting guideelement and stop 17. The plate element 16 may be adjustably positionedwithin the rectangular sleeve 12 by means of the lock I nut 18- and thebolt 19. This bolt 19, which is threaded through the end 14 engages thebottom plate 16 to position it at desired pointsalong the length of thesleeve member 12. The sleeve members 12, are in turn secured to'a largeplate element 20 with the sleeve element 12 positioned in such a manneras to align with the radii ofthe torsionally oscillating rotatingroller 1. The plates 20 are in turnfittedwith hub members 21 concentricwith and freely rotatable on the shaft 2. Rigidly fixed to the plate 20are downwardly projecting arms 22 and 22' having elongated holes 23formed at their lower ends. Through these holes 23 project the pins 24and 24' carried by the eccentric arms 25 and 25'. These eccentric arms25 and 25' are mounted on the opposite ends of the shaft 26 which inturn is supported in bearings 27. A pulley 28 mounted preferably at thecenter of the shaft 26 is connected to the pulley 29 by means of thebelt 30. The pulley 29 is in turn mounted on the shaft 31 which isrotated by the motor drive 32. Positioned at the top of this machine area series of rolls including the idler rolls 33 and 34, feed rolls 35 and36 and the dancer rolls 37 and 38. The cloth or fabric material 39 beingtreated enters the machine overthe feed roll 35 under the dancerrollh37' and over the idler roll 33. The dancer roll 37 and 38 areprovided to take up. the slack which develops periodically as the upperpressure rolls move to and fro from their central position duringoscillation of their axis about the axis of the torsionally oscillatingroll 1.

The cloth 39 passes into the machine from the idler roll 33 between theroll 1 and 8 and then continues around the roll 1 passing between it andthe rolls 7, 6 and 5 Suecessively. It then is passed over theidler'roll' 34 under the dancer roll 38 and out of the machine over thefeed roll 36. Thus in the general operation ofthis machine, the cloth 39which is. fed into the machine is subjected to an oscillatingmotion asit passes about the torsionally oscillating rotating roll 1. In additionto this action it is subjectto continued pressure action of the pressurerolls 5, 6, 7 and 8 arcuately oscillating about the roll 1, thusexerting a continued pressure onto the cloth between these rolls and theoscillating roll1-.

A specificexample of the additional action obtainable bythe structureset forth above will indicate the substantial nature of the improvementof this invention. Let us now suppose for example that we wishthe goodstreated to pass through the machine at the rate of five yards per minuteand be subjected to forty periods of vibration under pressurecorrespondingto ten passesby the usual method. i

Five yards per minute of travel of the goods correspond to three inchesper second of forward travel. Therefore, if the group of pressure rollsis oscillated backward and forwards about the axis of the mainoscillating roll, and at an angular amplitude corresponding to 1 inchesof the periphery of the main oscillating roll 1, once per second, eachlinear increment of the goods will be squeezed twice in going under eachpressure roll, or a total of eight squeezes instead of four. If thegroup of rolls is oscillated five times per second about the axis ofroll 1, each linear increment of the goods will be squeezed ten times ingoing under each pressure roll or a total of forty times in one passagethrough the machine instead of the four squeezes to which it would besubjected in going through the machine in the usual manner.

Continuing the example, in the case of four inch diameter pressure rollsoscillating about the axis of a six inch diameter roll 1, the angle ofoscillation would be 28.6 degrees, i. e. the angular amplitude ofoscillation would have this value.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with means supplying a torsionally oscillatingrotating drive, a roller mechanism comprising an oscillating rotatingroller operatively coupled to said drive, a pressure roller positionedparallel to and pressed toward said oscillating rotating roller, andmeans operatively connected to said pressure roller providing an arcuateoscillation of said pressure roller about and in pressed contact withsaid oscillating rotating roller.

2. In combination with means supplying a torsionally oscillatingrotating drive, a roller mechanism comprising an oscillating rotatingroller operatively coupled to said drive, a pressure roller positionedparallel with said rotating roller, means resiliently pressing saidpressure roller in tangential contact with said rotating roller, andmeans operatively connected to said pressure roller providing an arcuateoscillation of said pressure roll about and in pressed contact with saidoscillating rotating roller.

3. In combination with means supplying a torsionally oscillatingrotating drive, a roller mechanism comprising an oscillating rotatingroller operatively coupled to said drive, a pressure. roller positionedparallel with said rotating roller, means resiliently pressing saidpressure roller in tangential contact with said rotating roller andreciprocating means operatively connected to said pressure rollerproviding in conjunction with said last mentioned means an arcuateoscillation of said pressure roll about and in pressed contact with saidoscillating rotating roller.

4. In combination with means supplying a torsionally oscillatingrotating drive, a roller mechanism comprising an oscillating rotatingroller operatively coupled to said drive, a pressure roller positionedparallel to said rotating roller, means journalling said pressure rolleradapted to permit displacement of said pressure roller arcuately and insubstantial tangential contact with said rotating roller, spring meanspressing said pressure roller against said rotating roller, andreciprocating means operatively connected to said pressure rollerproviding an arcuate oscillation of said pressure roller about and inpressed contact with said oscillating rotating roller.

5. In combination with means supplying a torsionally oscillatingrotating drive, a roller mechanism comprising an oscillatingrotatingroller operatively coupled to said drive, a plurality of pressurerollers positioned parallel to said rotating rollers, journal means forsaid pressure rollers adapted to permit displacement of each pressureroller arcuately and in substantial tangential contact with saidrotating roller, spring means pressing said pressure rollers againstsaid rotating roller, and reciprocating means operatively connected .tosaid journal means providing arcuate oscillation of said pressure rollerabout said oscillating rotating roller.

6. In combination with a torsionally oscillating rotating roller apressure roller parallel to said rotating roller,

means journalling said pressure roller adapted to permit displacement ofsaid pressure roller arcuately and in substantial tangential contactwith said rotating roller, spring means pressing said pressure rolleragainst said rotating roller, and reciprocating means operativelyconnected to said journal means providing arcuate oscillation of saidpressure roller about said oscillating rotating roller.

7. In combination with a torsionally oscillating rotating roller, apressure roller positioned parallel to and pressed toward saidoscillating rotating roller, and means operatively connected to saidpressure roller providing an arcuate oscillation of" said pressureroller about and in pressed contact with said oscillating rotatingroller.

8. In combination with a torsionally oscillating rotating roller aplurality, of pressure rollers positioned parallel to and in pressedcontact with said oscillating rotating roller, and means operativelyconnected to said pressure rollers, providing arcuate oscillations ofsaid pressure rollers about and in pressed contact with said oscillatingrotating roller.

9. In combination with a torsionally oscillating rotating roller aplurality of pressure rollers positioned parallel to said rotatingroller, journals securing the ends of said pressure rollers forrotation, means slideably mounting said journals for displacement inalignment with radii of said torsionally oscillating rotating roller,spring means pressing said journals towardv said rotating roller, andmeans operatively connected to said means mounting said journalsproviding arcuate oscillation of said pressure rollers about and inpressed contact with said oscillating rotating roller.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said means providingarcuate oscillation comprises freely rotatable plates fixed to saidmeans mounting said journals having hubs coaxially mounted with saidrotating roller and a drive means for providing arcuate oscillations tosaid plate.-

11. In combination with a torsionally oscillating rotating roller fourpressure rollers positioned parallel to said rotating roller, journalssecuring the ends of said pressure rollers for rotation, sleeve membersslideably mounting said journals for displacement in alignment withradii of said torsionally oscillating rotating roller, spring meanspressing said journals toward said rotating roller, a freely pivotablepair of plates each mounting the sleeve members at oneend of saidpressure rollers and having a hub coaxial with said rotating roller, andlrlneans providing an oscillation of said plates about said 12. Acombination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotating rolleroscillates at a high frequency and at a small amplitude relative to thefrequency and amplitude of the pressure roller.

13. In combination with means supplying an oscillatable rotatable drive,a roller mechanism comprising an oscillating rotating roller operativelycoupled to said drive, a pressure roller positioned parallel with saidrotating roller, means resiliently pressing said pressure roller intangential contact with said rotating roller and reciprocating meansoperatively connected to said pressure roller providing in conjunctionwith said last-mentioned means an arcuate oscillation of said pressureroll about and in pressed contact with said oscillating rotating roller.

14. In combination with an oscillatable rotatable roller, a pressureroller positioned parallel to and pressed toward said oscillatingrotating roller, and means operatively connected to said pressure rollerproviding an arcuate oscillation of said pressure roller about and inpressed contact with said oscillating rotating roller. 7

2,798,303 Walton et al. May 17. 1955

